Intelligent device control system

Abstract

A device for controlling devices in a monitored space. A sensor senses an event in an initial state indicating an occupant may be present in the monitored space. A switch activates the controlled device in response to the sensed event. A processor enables the device to change from the initial state to a first state in response to the sensed event, with the first state indicating that the occupant may be in the monitored space. The device also changes from the first state to a second state while determining whether the occupant continues to be in the monitored space in response to a query challenge. The device next changes from the second state to the initial state in response to the determining indicating that the occupant is not in the monitored space. The switch deactivates the controlled device in the initial state in the monitored space.

1. A method for a controller to control one or more devices associated with a monitored space, said method comprising:
 defining a plurality of states of the controller controlling a controlled device associated with the monitored space; 
 at an initial state, receiving an event indicating a possible presence of a subject within the monitored space; 
 changing from the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized to a first state in which the controlled device is energized and in response to the received event, said first state indicating that the subject can provisionally be in the monitored space; 
 while in the first state:
 initiating an event timer set to expire after a first delay; 
 resetting the event timer in response to receiving a signal indicating a detection of one or more additional events before the expiration of the event timer; 
 upon expiration of the event timer, issuing a query challenge and changing from the first state to a second state; and 
 
 while in the second state:
 responsive to the issued query challenge, detecting a query response signal; 
 responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to the first state and resetting the event timer when the query response signal represents an event that indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space; 
 responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to a third state and disabling the event timer when the query response signal represents an event corresponding to an occupant action by the subject, said third state indicating that the subject is in the monitored space; and 
 changing from the second state to the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized when the subject fails to respond to the query challenge. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controller remains in the first state in response to receiving the signal indicating the detection of the one or more additional events before the expiration of the event timer. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the event that indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space comprises at least one of the following: a motion signal and a doorway signal, said doorway signal being generated from a doorway traversal sensor connected to the controller, and wherein the issued challenge comprises an audio challenge or a visual challenge. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising changing from the first state to the third state in response to receiving the event corresponding to the occupant action by the subject while the doorway traversal sensor is connected to the controller. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the event corresponding to the occupant action by the subject includes at least one of the following: wireless transmission signal, wired transmission signal, infrared signal, a noise, a sequence of noises, a human whistle, and a specific tone. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , at the initial state, further comprising changing from the initial state to the third state after receiving the event corresponding to the occupant action by the subject, wherein the controlled device is energized and the event timer is disabled, wherein the event corresponding to the occupant action by the subject provides a certainty that the subject is in the monitored space. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , while in the third state, further comprising energizing the controlled device in response to receiving the event corresponding to the occupant action by the subject. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , while in the third state, further comprising changing to the first state in response to receiving the event corresponding to the occupant action by the subject. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising ignoring the received event if the received event is received by a plurality of sensors simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, while in the second state, initiating a query response timer set to expire after a second delay, and wherein issuing the query challenge comprises issuing the query challenge before the expiration of the query response timer. 
     
     
       11. A method for a controller to control one or more devices associated with a monitored space, said method comprising:
 defining a plurality of states of the controller controlling a controlled device associated with the monitored space; 
 at an initial state, receiving an event indicating an open door to the monitored space; 
 changing, in response to the received open door event, from the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized to a first state in which the controlled device is energized; 
 while in the first state:
 changing, in response to receiving an event indicating a closed door to the monitored space, from the first state to a second state in which the controlled device remains energized, said second state indicating that the subject can provisionally be in the monitored space; 
 
 while in the second state:
 initiating an event timer set to expire after a first delay; 
 resetting the event timer in response to receiving the door open event before the expiration of the event timer and changing from the second state to the first state; 
 responsive to receiving an event indicating an occupant action by the subject before the expiration of the event timer, disabling the event timer and changing from the second state to a third state, said third state indicating that the subject is in the monitored space; 
 upon expiration of the event timer, changing from the second state to a fourth state; 
 
 while in the third state:
 responsive to receiving the door open event, changing from the third state to the first state; and 
 
 while in the fourth state:
 responsive to receiving the occupant action event before the expiration of the event timer, changing from the fourth state to the third state; and 
 responsive to receiving the door open event, changing from the fourth state to the first state. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, while in the fourth state:
 issuing a query challenge; 
 responsive to the issued query challenge, detecting a query response signal; and 
 responsive to the query response signal, changing from the fourth state to the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized when the subject fails to respond to the query challenge. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising, while in the fourth state:
 responsive to the query response signal, changing from the fourth state to the second state and resetting the event timer when the query response signal represents an event that indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the event that indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space comprises at least one of the following: a motion signal and a doorway signal, said doorway signal being generated from a doorway traversal sensor connected to the controller, and wherein the issued challenge comprises an audio challenge or a visual challenge. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controller remains in the first state in response to receiving the signal indicating the detection of the one or more additional events before the expiration of the event timer. 
     
     
       16. A method for a controller to control one or more devices associated with a monitored space, said method comprising:
 defining a plurality of states of the controller controlling a controlled device associated with the monitored space; 
 at an initial state, receiving an event indicating a possible presence of a subject within the monitored space; 
 changing from the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized to a first state in which the controlled device is energized and in response to the received event, said first state indicating that the subject can provisionally be in the monitored space; 
 while in the first state:
 initiating an event timer set to expire after a delay; 
 resetting the event timer in response to receiving a signal indicating a detection of one or more additional events before the expiration of the event timer; 
 upon expiration of the event timer, issuing a query challenge and changing from the first state to a second state; and 
 
 while in the second state:
 responsive to the issued query challenge, detecting a query response signal; and 
 responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to the first state and resetting the event timer when the query response signal indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space; 
 changing from the second state to the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized when the subject fails to respond to the query challenge. 
 
 
     
     
       17. A system for controlling one or more devices associated with a monitored space comprising:
 a controlled device, said controlled device operable to be energized or de-energized and located within a monitored space; 
 a sensor for receiving an event signal indicating a possible presence of a subject within the monitored space; 
 a processor responsive to the sensor receiving the event signal for transitioning among a plurality of states, wherein the processor is configured to execute computer-executable instructions for:
 changing from an initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized to a first state in which the controlled device is energized and in response to the received event, said first state indicating that the subject can provisionally be in the monitored space; 
 while in the first state:
 initiating an event timer set to expire after a first delay; 
 resetting the event timer in response to receiving a signal indicating a detection of one or more additional events before the expiration of the event timer; 
 upon expiration of the event timer, issuing a query challenge and changing from the first state to a second state; and 
 
 while in the second state:
 responsive to the issued query challenge, detecting a query response signal; 
 responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to the first state and resetting the event timer when the query response signal represents an event that indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space; 
 responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to a third state and disabling the event timer when the query response signal represents an event corresponding to an occupant action by the subject, said third state indicating that the subject is in the monitored space; and 
 changing from the second state to the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized when the subject fails to respond to the query challenge. 
 
 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the event that indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space comprises at least one of the following: a motion signal, a doorway signal, and a doorway traversal signal. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor includes a doorway traversal sensor for receiving a passage signal indicating the subject traversing a doorway to the monitored space. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of states includes an initial state, a first state, a second state, and a third state.